Some musings from Jerusalem as we meet a new group of new immigrants at the Beit Canada absorption center…people have a variety of reasons for making aliya. One Canadian girl says, “Americans from Jewish centers such as New York City, have not necessarily made aliyah in an attempt to escape explicit or implicit discrimination. Rather, [the] choice is motivated by a desire to live freely in all senses of the word…There is a sense of ease felt here as a Jewish person that may go beyond any logical or tangible explanation. ” And a British girl says, “After years of telling people that I’m going to make Aliyah, I have finally done it. Some people have no problem leaving their families, countries and homes; some people might even be desperate to leave. But for me the idea of moving made me feel completely torn…But however much I love and need my family, eventually it was time to make Aliyah.” There you have it; whether the decision is made out of fear or out of love, the feeling that Israel is “home” is what brings Jews to Israel. But, I’d go even further than that; I knew from age seven that I want to live in Israel, even though I didn’t make aliya until after college. It’s a neshama thing – there are some souls who belong here, while there are still many who are more fitting for life in the Diaspora. Soon, though, the majority of world Jewry will live in Israel and that is when we will see real change. For more musings, especially on the weekly Torah portion with the secrets of the parsha, got to http://www.jerusalemconnection.org/weekly And if you like delving deeply into matters of prayer and meditation, you’ll find yourself at home with our books, at www.jewishspiritualbooks.com Finally, if you want to know what’s going on with Chabad in Jerusalem, you need www.chabadjerusalem.org Enjoy!

Some musings from Jerusalem as we meet a new group of new immigrants at the Beit Canada absorption center…people have a variety of reasons for making aliya. One Canadian girl says, “Americans from Jewish centers such as New York City, have not necessarily made aliyah in an attempt to escape explicit or implicit discrimination. Rather, [the] choice is motivated by a desire to live freely in all senses of the word…There is a sense of ease felt here as a Jewish person that may go beyond any logical or tangible explanation. ” And a British girl says, “After years of telling people that I’m going to make Aliyah, I have finally done it. Some people have no problem leaving their families, countries and homes; some people might even be desperate to leave. But for me the idea of moving made me feel completely torn…But however much I love and need my family, eventually it was time to make Aliyah.” There you have it; whether the decision is made out of fear or out of love, the feeling that Israel is “home” is what brings Jews to Israel. But, I’d go even further than that; I knew from age seven that I want to live in Israel, even though I didn’t make aliya until after college. It’s a neshama thing – there are some souls who belong here, while there are still many who are more fitting for life in the Diaspora. Soon, though, the majority of world Jewry will live in Israel and that is when we will see real change. For more musings, especially on the weekly Torah portion with the secrets of the parsha, got to http://www.jerusalemconnection.org/weekly And if you like delving deeply into matters of prayer and meditation, you’ll find yourself at home with our books, at www.jewishspiritualbooks.com Finally, if you want to know what’s going on with Chabad in Jerusalem, you need www.chabadjerusalem.org Enjoy!

This week, the Jews receive the Torah. That’s right, during this week’s Torah reading – Yitro – we receive the Torah. This was possibly the greatest multimedia event of all times, with visible voices, audible sights and all other kinds of supernatural phenomena that really kept the Jews on their feet. Well, sort of. When God started speaking to the Jews, delivering the ten commandments, it really threw the Jews back. Literally, about twelve miles back. The reinforcements arrived in the form of angels, who gently nudged the Jews back to Mt. Sinai and kept them on their feet, but by that time the Jews had heard enough. They asked Moshe to cover for them. He would listen to God directly and the Jews were happy to receive the message from him indirectly. I wish I had been there. Oh, I was…and come to think of it, so were you! But for some reason, I don’t recall it. For analysis of what occurred there, go to http://www.jerusalemconnection.org/weekly and you’ll find a great description. Or, if you’re the meditative type and you love delving into deep volumes on the subject of prayer and meditation, go to www.jewishspiritualbooks.com. Finally, if you want to know what’s going on with us in Jerusalem, go to www.chabadjerusalem.org One way or another, we’re all connected.

Here are three reasons to come to Israel right now: One – the weather is great (chilly but sunny), unlike the extreme cold that the US is facing right now. Two – During this week fall the memorial days of two great Tzadikim (holy men) – Baba Sali (R’ Yisrael Abuhatzeira) and the previous Rebbe of Chabad (the Rayatz, R’ Yoseph Yitzhak Schneerson), and people in Israel still appreciate and celebrate the life of a tzadik. Three – Birthright groups are here, and they raise the spirit and energy level with their enthusiasm for everything Israeli. If that’s not enough for you, then this also happens to be the week of Torah portion Beshalach, during which the Jews escaped from the Egyptian bondage and officially become a people. Moreover, the month of Shvat that just began has something for all of us. First of all, it’s the month of food (and if you’re vegetarian it’s the month of trees), and the organ of the month is the stomach. But perhaps most of all, the month of Shvat is associated with the tribe of Asher and the sense of enjoyment. Something for everyone, for those who are willing to partake! For more on the subject of the Jewish escape from Egyptian bondage, go to http://www.jerusalemconnection.org/weekly If you are interested in Jewish meditation and meditative prayer, then www.jewishspiritualbooks.com is for you. And if you just wish to become acquainted with Chabad in Jerusalem, then www.chabadjerusalem.org is for you!